We were now able to scroll to our heart’s content until we found the perfect match to scratch that certain itch.
Whether or not this was the best thing for the gay community is up for debate with many decrying the loss of queer bar space as a result of no one getting off their phones to interact in person. “There are so many different ways to go about hooking up, intimacy, dating, and even how you talk.”
The pair also wanted a name that didn’t scream cis gay men.
“We didn’t want to have a hypermasculine name,” Hostetler says.
To stay updated on the latest information go to findmotto.com.
This article was originally published on our sister site, Queer Forty. Headless torsos, catfish, bots, and scams might work for other apps, but we’re eliminating them.
Motto will also save users time and energy. But, I don’t think any app is adequately meeting the queer community where it is.
Pronoun options are he/him, she/her, they/them, “prefer not to say,” and a blank space to write in. Scroll no more.
Joel Simkhai, founder of the gay hookup app Grindr, and Alex Hostetler have launched a new queer dating app, Motto, which aims to improve the process of dating and hookup culture.
“Our goal is to make Motto the best app for people who are looking for a more guided sort of premium or elevated experience, something that feels more cognizant of how people interact with each other,” says Simkhai.
“It’s embarrassing sometimes. Whether you are looking for hookups, dates, groups, or want to explore a kink, we’ve made space for that.
JH: Can you tell us a bit about the development process? Through thoughtful design and policy, we eliminated catfishing, reduced flaking and discrimination, and minimized aimless small talk by replacing anonymous interactions with high-intent, genuine, face-forward connections.
We are building Motto to address many of the pain points plaguing current app users in the following ways:
By focusing on quality and curation- We are a free membership-based app, and the only hookup or gay app with an approval process. Most single gay people will say they want a relationship, but want to hookup in the process.
We’re ready to deliver — but we need the resources to do it right. What problems exist in it?
“How does the queer community think about hookups vs dating? Our dating platform prioritized users’ time, energy, and mental well-being. But it’s just one flavor. With Motto we’re trying to solve some of the problems that arise from Grindr and similar apps.
JH: What would you say to those who say technology has hindered old fashioned dating and compromised person to person connection?
Joel Simkhai: They aren’t wrong!
Users are required to include their name, neighborhood, and at least three photos that show their face. But I think compartmentalizing sex as a specifically non-intimate or impersonal thing can create unintended consequences for how people relate to each other sexually and romantically.
You can download Motto in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store to join the waitlist for your city.
Our community is very diverse in its approach to hookups and casual dating. Building MOTTO with our dedicated team was thrilling, challenging, and rewarding. Users are only able to view five to ten profiles per day in an effort to cut down screen time. Some of the feedback was really good, and some was really meh. “We were really conscious of keeping the gender expression of our name sort of neutral.”
Ultimately, Simkhai and Hostetler say, their mission is not to replace Grindr or eliminate hookups.
We created Motto to give people with different values another option.